“ Don’t ya think you were over paid ? ”
That’s what my Father asked me recently in reference to what I made as a bricklayer in Boston back in the 1990’s. And so I looked back at that time and considered the fact that all the men I worked for got rich…really rich, and I was more than happy to help them along with this. I also looked back at what it took for me to learn my skills and perform them correctly thus providing a quality product in exchange for wages. And lets toss into the fray the extreme discomfort suffered in the elements ranging from extreme heat to extreme cold and let us please not mention the physical wear and tear this old body has suffered……
And so….
“ No Dad….I never once thought I was over paid….not once….ever.”
I live in a nation that at one time proved itself the most proficient in the world at absolutely everything until it was considered that American workers were greedy and therefore priced themselves out of a job . And so I would like to tell you about a little something I’ve been watching for a week now. It’s an addition to an old folks home and it’s a rarity in that its being veneered in brick and the three young Mexicans are giving it an honest effort under the watch full eye of their Gringo boss……
One weeks work has netted the four of them a total of about 1800 bricks laid….about what it would take me and an experienced laborer… even at my advanced age… under three days. I won’t mention I can offer a better product but I must argue the point of the benefit of cheap labor……
One well paid skillful tradesman paid less than three semi skilled and producing more…..what’s so wrong with that concept ?
Sour grapes ? ….you bet your ass
